TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) summoned the head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Penny Kusumastuti Lukito, to undergo an examination as a witness in cases of acute kidney injury in children. Penny was scheduled to be examined today, November 21, 2022.

The Police's PR Bureau head Ahmad Ramadhan said that the summon was issued last week. "We have sent a letter dated Friday, November 18, 2022, to the BPOM Head to attend and provide information on cases of child kidney injury," said Ramadhan in a press statement received by Tempo, Monday, November 21, 2022.

The Bareskrim had earlier named two companies as suspects in this case. They are PT Afi Farma and CV Samudera Chemical.

PT Afi Farma is the producer of syrup drugs containing Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Diethylene Glycol (DEG), the two chemicals that were considered by the Health Ministry as the main cause of kidney failure in children.

Meanwhile, CV Samudra Chemical is the supplier of the raw material of Propylene Glycol (PG) used by PT Afi Farma. The PG contained EG and DEG that exceeded the safe limit.

Apart from these two companies, BPOM is still investigating two other syrup drug producers, PT Yarindo Farmatama and PT Universal Pharmaceutical Industries.

There is no information yet about the BPOM head Penny Lukito’s attendance. The agency has not also confirmed the police’s summons.

The Health Ministry stated that there were no additional cases of acute kidney injury in children since the end of last October. As of November 1, 2022, there were 325 cases with 178 deaths.

MIRZA BAGASKARA

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